Surat: Heavy rains caused havoc in Surat city and district on Tuesday under the influence of multiple weather systems active over South Gujarat. After receiving more than five inches of rain on Monday, heavy showers resumed early Tuesday morning, inundating many low-lying areas of the city.

Roads, residential areas, drains and housing societies were filled with waist-deep water, bringing normal life to a standstill. Four rain-related deaths have been reported so far amid the flood-like situation, while thousands of people have been affected. The administration has shifted more than 2,100 people to safer places, and rescue operations have been carried out on a war footing by the NDRF, SDRF, fire brigade and police.

According to the state’s rainfall data from 6 am to 4 pm, rain was recorded in 164 talukas. Surat district was the worst affected. The district received the highest rainfall, with 12 inches in Kamrej, 10 inches in Surat city and 8.8 inches in Palsana.

Four deaths, electrocution and lightning incidents

Four people have died in Surat amid the heavy rains. A girl died due to electrocution, while a woman lost her life after being struck by lightning.

On the other hand, Azam Alam Abdul Kamal, 28, a resident of Sujat Khan Street near the Big Mosque, was entering his house in wet clothes after bathing in the rain when he was electrocuted by an iron ladder. Mohammad Salman Mohammad Irshad Sheikh, 43, who rushed to save his friend, was also electrocuted, and both men fell unconscious. Locals switched off the power supply and rushed them to the hospital, where doctors declared both of them dead.

Rander police have registered a case of accidental death and started further investigation. The exact cause of death will be known after the post-mortem report.

Rescue operations with boats and tractors across the city

Due to heavy rains in Surat, areas including Saniya Hemad, Katargam, Bhestan, Nasirnagar, Ved Pandol, Holi Bangla, Parvat Patiya, Godadara, Udhna Darwaza, Varachha, Mota Varachha and Katargam Deri Phalia were flooded with knee- to waist-deep water. As people were trapped inside their homes in many areas, rescue operations were carried out with the help of boats and tractors.

Surat Municipal Commissioner M. Nagarajan said that due to heavy rainfall in the upper reaches, water inflow into local creeks has increased and water levels have reached dangerous levels. Keeping this situation in mind, about 2,100 people have been shifted to safer places so far. NDRF and SDRF teams have also been deployed across the city.

GSRTC bus gets stuck in water, 28 passengers rescued

A GSRTC bus travelling from Khambhat to Surat got stuck in water near Sahara Darwaja-Vraj Chowk at around 11:50 am. A total of 28 passengers, including driver Mukeshbhai Rawat and conductor Ilyasbhai Syed, were on board. As the water level continued to rise, the fire brigade safely evacuated all the passengers one by one within about 25 minutes with the help of a local tractor. No casualties were reported in the incident.

Police and fire department remain on the ground

A total of 49 people, including 37 children and 12 staff members, were safely evacuated by the police after floodwater entered a school in the Sarthana area. Personnel from various police stations across the city, including Pal Police, are continuously patrolling waterlogged areas and providing assistance to stranded residents.

The Fire Department has also kept special teams, boats and tractors ready at every station. After receiving numerous complaints about fallen trees, teams have also been engaged in clearing them.

Vehicles stranded, traffic disrupted

Many cars and bikes were stranded after water levels rose to nearly four feet in the Udhna Darwaza area. More than 40 vehicles got stuck on the Parvat Patiya–Kadodara Road within just ten minutes. Heavy waterlogging severely affected traffic in many areas, including Varachha, Katargam, Vesu, the Mahavir University area, Godadara, Utran, Katargam Police Station, Mini Bazaar and Palanpur Jakatnaka.

Some drains were completely submerged, and people were seen crossing railway tracks at the risk of their lives.

Holiday in schools and anganwadis

Following the Meteorological Department’s forecast of extremely heavy rainfall, a holiday was declared on Tuesday for all primary, secondary and higher secondary schools under the Surat Municipal Corporation and municipality limits, as well as all anganwadis.

Collector’s appeal

Surat Collector Tejas Parmar said that all control rooms in the district are functioning round the clock and that all Mamlatdar and Taluka Panchayat offices have been put on alert. He said the Tapi River is currently not flowing at a dangerous level and there is no need to panic. However, citizens have been urged to avoid unnecessary travel and follow the administration’s instructions.

Entire South Gujarat on high alert

Apart from Surat, the administration remains on high alert in Navsari, Valsad, Tapi and Dang districts due to heavy rainfall. Continuous monitoring has begun on the Purna, Ambika and Kaveri rivers in Navsari, while SDRF teams have been deployed. All disaster management agencies have been kept on alert as heavy rainfall is forecast across the state in the coming hours.

DeshGujarat